Editing Louis II, Prince of Monaco (section)

==Early years==
Born in [[Baden-Baden]], Louis II was the only child of [[Albert I, Prince of Monaco]] (1848–1922), and [[Lady Mary Douglas-Hamilton|Lady Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton]] (1850–1922). His mother was a daughter of [[William Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton]] and [[Princess Marie Amelie of Baden]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=10 May 1949 |title=LOUIS II OF MONACO I DEAD AT AGE OF 78 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1949/05/10/archives/louis-ii-of-monaco-i-dead-at-age-of-78-ruler-since-22-of-tiny-state.html |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>

Louis was born within a year of his parents' marriage, but his mother, a strong-willed 19-year-old, disliked Monaco and was unhappy with her husband. She left the country permanently shortly after the birth, and the couple's marriage was annulled in 1880.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=25 January 1925 |title=MONACO'S RULER TO LEAVE HERE SOON; Prince Louis II., Arriving as Comte de Thorigny, Has Spent a Month at Palm Beach. HIS ROMANTIC CAREER He Served In the French Army With Distinction 30 Years -- Marriage Angered His Father. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/01/25/archives/monacos-ruler-to-leave-here-soon-prince-louis-ii-arriving-as-comte.html |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref> Louis was raised in Germany by his mother and stepfather, Count (later Prince) [[Tassilo Festetics von Tolna]], along with his eldest half-sister Maria-Mathilde (later grandmother of [[Princess Ira von Fürstenberg]]); he did not see his father until age 11 when he was obliged to return to Monaco to be trained for his future princely duties.

Louis's father, [[Albert I, Prince of Monaco|Prince Albert I]], was a dominating personality who had made Monaco a centre of cultural activity and whose intellectual achievements were recognized around the world. Unhappy to be living with his cold and distant father, Louis went to France as soon as he was old enough to enroll in [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr|Saint-Cyr]], the French national military college.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ilse |first=Jess |date=12 July 2020 |title=The complex prince who helped make modern Monaco: the life of Louis II |url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/monaco/the-complex-prince-who-helped-make-modern-monaco-the-life-of-louis-ii-145457/ |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=Royal Central}}</ref> Four years later, after graduating, he was attached to the [[French Foreign Legion]] and then served with a regiment of [[Chasseurs d'Afrique]] (African Light Horse) in [[Algeria]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=25 July 1946 |title=MONACO'S RULER, 76, WEDS; Prince Louis II Marries a Commoner, Chislaine Dommanges |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1946/07/25/archives/monacos-ruler-76-weds-prince-louis-ii-marries-a-commoner-chislaine.html |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>

Before being stationed in [[Algeria]], he met [[Marie Juliette Louvet]] (1867–1930), a [[cabaret]] singer, on a short official visit to Paris.<ref name="caroline">{{cite book |last1=Rovira |first1=Ashley |title=Her Way: The Remarkable Life of Monaco's Princess Caroline |date=2021 |publisher=Heavy Crown Press |location=USA |url=https://www.amazon.com/Her-Way-Remarkable-Princess-Caroline-ebook/dp/B09J59CCYF/ |access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Juliette was already the mother of two children, Georges and Marguerite, by her former husband, French "girlie" photographer Achille Delmaet (1860–1914). Reportedly, Prince Louis fell deeply in love but, because of her ignominious station in life, his father would not permit the marriage.<ref name=":1" /> It has been asserted that Louis ignored his father and married Juliette in 1897: there is, however, no evidence for this allegation.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=17 September 2017 |title=The House of Grimaldi: Louis II |url=https://www.hellomonaco.com/sightseeing/grimaldi-family/louis-ii-of-monaco-and-his-contribution/ |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=Hello Monaco}}</ref> They had an out-of-wedlock daughter, [[Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois|Charlotte Louise Juliette]], born on 30 September 1898 in [[Constantine, Algeria]].<ref name=":2" /> There is no mention of Louvet in the authorized biography of her grandson, [[Rainier III, Prince of Monaco|Prince Rainier III]], who is Monegasque by nationality but whose ancestors include people of [[French people|French]], [[Mexican nobility|Mexican]], [[Italians|Italian]], [[Germanic peoples|German]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]],<ref name=":3" /> and [[English people|English]] nationality.

Louis served in the French Army for four years from 1895 to 1899, reaching the rank of lieutenant. He was awarded the [[médaille coloniale]] (Colonial Medal) and the Cross of the [[Legion of Honor]]. At the conclusion of his military service, he returned to Monaco, leaving behind his mistress and daughter. At the outbreak of [[World War I]], he re-enlisted in the [[French Army]] as a volunteer, serving as a staff officer under General [[Louis Franchet d'Espèrey|Franchet d’Espèrey]]. Louis was made a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor and eventually became a [[brigadier general]].